Reader submitted, Elga writes:

When I was relaxing my hair, I used to change its color every other week. This time, I had been blonde for 2 weeks and I was ready for something else. I was a student and my roommate would do my hair for free. She warned me that it would damage my hair, but I didn’t care because I thought my hair was strong. So here I am one day sitting in the room while she is coloring my hair to a brunette tone. We didn’t have plastic gloves; instead, we used plastic grocery bags. I suddenly hear my roomate say, “OMG, OMG, OMG”. I started freaking out, turned around and my roomate had a big patch of hair in her hand. I ran to the bathroom to rinse the color like a crazy woman. Once I was done I came back into the room and my roommate was still saying, “OMG, OMG,OMG”. I was wondering what the hell was going on with my hair and she gave me a mirror. You should have seen my face when I realized that instead of being a brunette, my hair had turned a dirty greenish color. Not only had I lost a big patch of hair, but my hair turned green. I had to wait a week to die my hair to black.”

Elga made a lot of mistakes here. I hope you were able to recognize them. What could she have done differently? Leave your suggestions in the comments.

Reader submitted, Elga writes:

When I was relaxing my hair, I used to change its color every other week. This time, I had been blonde for 2 weeks and I was ready for something else. I was a student and my roommate would do my hair for free. She warned me that it would damage my hair, but I didn’t care because I thought my hair was strong. So here I am one day sitting in the room while she is coloring my hair to a brunette tone. We didn’t have plastic gloves; instead, we used plastic grocery bags. I suddenly hear my roomate say, “OMG, OMG, OMG”. I started freaking out, turned around and my roomate had a big patch of hair in her hand. I ran to the bathroom to rinse the color like a crazy woman. Once I was done I came back into the room and my roommate was still saying, “OMG, OMG,OMG”. I was wondering what the hell was going on with my hair and she gave me a mirror. You should have seen my face when I realized that instead of being a brunette, my hair had turned a dirty greenish color. Not only had I lost a big patch of hair, but my hair turned green. I had to wait a week to die my hair to black.”

Elga made a lot of mistakes here. I hope you were able to recognize them. What could she have done differently? Leave your suggestions in the comments.

Leah writes…

Following your natural hair journey, I believe your hair texture is “Very” similar to mines. I chopped all my hair off in 02/08 because I was so tired of perms pulling out my hair(plus I’m scissor happy). I was already a product junkie when I had a perm, and I really became a product junkie when I went natural!

I would like to recommend/challenge you to try a product that I use on my hair when I wash and go. I have attached some pictures to try to show you my hair in every state (Wet, dry, straighten). I don’t straighten my hair often so after experimenting with many costly and cheap products I have found a cheap one that works wonders on my hair type.

The product I swear by for wash-n-go’s….(Drum roll )…
MOTIONS PINK MOISTURIZER! It comes in a pink purple bottle and cost $3.99, It can be found at your local Sally’s. PLEASE try it once and use generously. Let your hair air dry and watch your curls pop!

Your hair will already be shiny and conditioned but I like my curls to look “wet” so once my hair dries I take some olive oil (dime size) rub it together and gently work it in my hair and it adds more shine!

Please let me know how it works for you. I have used this product in my curly hair pictures.

My reply…

Leah, I don’t typically use products that contain mineral oil, but I have used pink oil moisturizers in the past from Luster’s and Motions. I grew up on pink oil and Wild Root.  I found a natural product very similar: Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk. It works the same or better with much better ingredients.


What do you think about pink oil or other oil moisturizers like Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk? Please share your thoughts in the comments or e-mail a photo and your review.

Lucia writes…

Hi there!

I love your blog! It’s really wonderful to promote and embrace ourselves as we are, and I think you all are doing a wonderful job with that.

I first came across Mane and Chic about a year or so ago, I had been contemplating going natural, but I chickened out.

For most of my high-school life I was natural. I have really hard and stubborn hair. My natural hair was a nightmare. So I decided to relax it.

And ever since, it’s gone weaker, my hairline is receding (I can see the signs) and this scares me. And I know it’s because my hair becomes very weak when relaxed no matter how strict my regimen.

After much thought and consideration, I have decided to go natural again, I am a lot more clued up about my hair and how to work it naturally. And I am excited I must say. I am going to grow it by braiding or platting for about two months, after that I should have enough growth to cut off the relaxed ends.

I will send you pics of my progress.

By the way I am all the way in Africa, south Africa to be exact! Hope you guys are coming through for the world cup!

Regards,

Lucia

Genoa writes…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY3gxZzXw1A
We live from the head down and not the feet up
And I’m adorned with the crown that’s making this up
And I’m fine under cloud 9

Yes I wear the lamb’s wool, the feet of burned brass
And the wool defies gravity like the nature of a gas
And I’m fine under cloud 9

Twist my cloud and it rain
And when it rains it pours
And the energy will absorb
Power for the metaphysical one

Happy to be nappy, I’m black and I’m proud
That I have been chosen to wear the conscious cloud
And I’m fine under cloud 9

I be a chameleon and wear it bone straight
But it’s so much stronger when it’s in its natural state
And I’m fine under cloud 9

Twist my cloud and let it rain
And when it rains it pours
And the energy will absorb
Power for the metaphysical one

Repeat

We live from the head down and not the feet up
And I’m adorned with the crown that’s making this up
And I’m fine under cloud 9

Twist my cloud and let it rain
And when it rains it pours
And the energy will absorb
Power for the metaphysical one

A poem by TerraD

I am not my hair.
But my hair is ME.
YOU.
ME can’t stand YOU.
YOU have issues with ME,
because she’s ME.
YOU.

Why does ME have to be YOU?

Why does ME offend YOU?
Do YOU want ME to be
like YOU?
ME.
She resists YOU.
YOU are not her.
ME.

ME can’t be YOU.
It is not Her. She is ME.
YOU.
WE must ignore THEM.
Take back YOU,
so YOU can be ME too.
YOU.

ME is free.
ME is her, him, them.
YOU.
YOU are not your hair,
But my hair is ME.
YOU.

Reena writes…

Ever since my beloved hairstylist Johnny moved away to be with Lady O, I have had the most difficult time finding the perfect blowout. Oh the horror! The lack of knowledge about the basics of blowing out naturally curly hair to silky straight perfection is unbelievable. The process is very simple, really! It just involves some common sense basics that if followed will insure/ensure/assure that desired “salon blowout” look that ALL women want. EQUALITY NOW!

BEFORE	AFTER

Tara Copeland at Hairlines styled my hair in this photo. Very Oprah-like!

Here are the steps…

1. Shampoo hair with a detangling shampoo.

Suggestions: KeraCare Hydrating Detangling Shampoo

2. Condition

Suggestions: Fekkai Shea Butter Moisturizing Conditioner

3. Detangle in sections with a detangling comb and a leave-in conditioner. DO NOT USE A BRUSH!

Suggestions: Jibere Comb and Paul Mitchell The Conditioner

Part the hair in four sections. Work those tangles from ENDS to ROOT, not root to ends. I repeat, from ENDS to ROOT.

4. Use a tourmaline blow dryer with a Denman brush and a heat protector. DO NOT USE AN OVEN OR A PRESSING COMB! Too much heat will damage the hair and cause severe breakage.

Suggestions: T3 Blow Dryer and Denman D3 Brush and Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum

On a medium heat setting, take one section and divide that section. Then, with the Denman brush focus on the ends, first, by running the brush through the ends and blowing the medium heat directly on the brush. IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET THOSE CURLY ENDS STRAIGHT, FIRST. After, the ends are dry, dry the rest of the section. Repeat this process until all the sections are dry.

5. Use a touramline flat iron and a styling comb.

Suggestions: T3 Pro Iron and a basic styling comb

Depending on your texture, set your iron to your desired heat preference. Again, take one section and divide that section into smaller sections. As you flatiron each section, place a styling comb behind the iron as you go. The fine teeth of the comb will GUARANTEE that each strand get smooth. DO NOT twist or pin up the section. Just allow the hair to hang, as you finish each one. Repeat this process until all the sections are straight.

6. Done.

Since my hair is fine, I do not use much product such as oils or sheen sprays because it will weigh my hair down and get that greasy look. Yuck!

So, Hairstylists! Please try these steps to blowout naturally curly hair, like mine. You will be a better stylist because if you can blow out cocoa butta sistah hair, then you can do ANYTHING!

A poem by Natasha

Girl is that your Real Hair?
Well, who else’s would it be?
That can’t be all yours
No really it’s all me

When I was a little girl
Little boys pulled and tugged
That ain’t yo’ hair they snickered and jeered
That caused my eyes to well up with tears

It must be extensions
Or a ponytail weave
No, it is mine
Why won’t you believe?

Dark girls don’t have long hair
They would chant
It’s the length, it’s the length
To my mom I would rant

So first came the press and curl
And then the white cream
Now, I thought, those boys
Will stop being mean

But, no it got worse
And then I was scared
Scared of what they thought
About my Real hair

So then, snip, snip
And cut, cut
I’m looking Fly!

No more of their questions
And wondering why

But later on in life came more of the same
They just couldn’t believe my long relaxed mane
Girl is that your Real Hair?
Well who else’s would it be?
That can’t be all yours
No really it’s all me

Your hair is so long
It flows down your back
You have to be mixed or
It must be Yak

How ignorant, how ignorant,
How ignorant could you be?
Hair is hair even on Dark girls like me

Ok I Got IT!
Here comes the Big Chop!
And now it’s gone
No one else will mock

Oh, but here it comes
More of the same
More and More questions
About the Reality of my mane

Girl is that your Real Hair?
Well who else’s would it be?
That can’t be yours
No really it’s all me
And so on, and so on
It can’t be all yours
It’s just too curly

Your hair with the curls
They sell that for a price
Well this wasn’t bought
It’s all mine
God made it real nice